To be a Pilgrim
Encyclopedia
"To be a Pilgrim""To be a Pilgrim" (also commonly known as "He who would Valiant be" is the only hymn John Bunyan
is credited with writing but is indelibly associated with him. It first appeared in Part 2 of Pilgrim's Progress, written in 1684 while he was serving a twelve-year sentence in Bedford
Gaol on a charge of preaching without a licence. The hymn recalls the words of Hebrews
11:13: "...and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth."
The words were modified extensively by Percy Dearmer
for the 1906 The English Hymnal
.
At the same time it was given a new tune by British composer
Vaughan Williams using the traditional Sussex
melody "Monk's Gate
". The hymn has also been sung to the melody "Moab" (John Roberts, 1870) and St. Dunstans (Charles W. Douglas, 1917).
Bunyan's original version is not commonly sung in churches today, perhaps because of the references to "hobgoblin" and "foul fiend." However, one commentator has said: "Bunyan's burly song strikes a new and welcome note in our Hymnal. The quaint sincerity of the words stirs us out of our easygoing dull Christianity to the thrill of great adventure." The original version of "To be a Pilgrim" is the school hymn for the Royal Grammar School, Guildford
.
The hymn's refrain "to be a pilgrim" has entered the language and has been used in the title of a number of books dealing with pilgrimage in a literal or spiritual sense.
Also recorded by Lesley Duncan and Joyce Everson in 1973 on the GM Label in England.
It is the school hymn of Newcastle Grammar School.
"To be a Pilgrim" is a radio play by Rachel Joyce, broadcast as the BBc Four afternoon play. It won the Peter Tinniswood Award in 2007 for best original drama.
John Bunyan
John Bunyan was an English Christian writer and preacher, famous for writing The Pilgrim's Progress. Though he was a Reformed Baptist, in the Church of England he is remembered with a Lesser Festival on 30 August, and on the liturgical calendar of the Episcopal Church on 29 August.-Life:In 1628,...
is credited with writing but is indelibly associated with him. It first appeared in Part 2 of Pilgrim's Progress, written in 1684 while he was serving a twelve-year sentence in Bedford
Bedford
Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire, in the East of England. It is a large town and the administrative centre for the wider Borough of Bedford. According to the former Bedfordshire County Council's estimates, the town had a population of 79,190 in mid 2005, with 19,720 in the adjacent town...
Gaol on a charge of preaching without a licence. The hymn recalls the words of Hebrews
Epistle to the Hebrews
The Epistle to the Hebrews is one of the books in the New Testament. Its author is not known.The primary purpose of the Letter to the Hebrews is to exhort Christians to persevere in the face of persecution. The central thought of the entire Epistle is the doctrine of the Person of Christ and his...
11:13: "...and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth."
The words were modified extensively by Percy Dearmer
Percy Dearmer
Percy Dearmer, was an English priest and liturgist best known as the author of The Parson's Handbook, a liturgical manual for Anglican clergy. A lifelong socialist, he was an early advocate of the public ministry of women and concerned with social justice...
for the 1906 The English Hymnal
English Hymnal
The English Hymnal was published in 1906 for the Church of England under the editorship of Percy Dearmer and Ralph Vaughan Williams. The preface to the hymnal began with the statement, "A collection of the best hymns in the English language." Much of the contents was used for the first time at St...
.
At the same time it was given a new tune by British composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
Vaughan Williams using the traditional Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
melody "Monk's Gate
Monk's Gate
Monk's Gate is a hamlet in the Horsham District of West Sussex, England. It lies on the A281 road 2.6 miles southeast of Horsham.-Hymn tune:...
". The hymn has also been sung to the melody "Moab" (John Roberts, 1870) and St. Dunstans (Charles W. Douglas, 1917).
Bunyan's original version is not commonly sung in churches today, perhaps because of the references to "hobgoblin" and "foul fiend." However, one commentator has said: "Bunyan's burly song strikes a new and welcome note in our Hymnal. The quaint sincerity of the words stirs us out of our easygoing dull Christianity to the thrill of great adventure." The original version of "To be a Pilgrim" is the school hymn for the Royal Grammar School, Guildford
Royal Grammar School, Guildford
The Royal Grammar School is a selective English independent day school for boys in Guildford, Surrey. The school dates its founding to the death of Robert Beckingham in 1509 who left provision in his will to 'make a free scole at the Towne of Guldford'; in 1512 a governing body was set up to form...
.
The hymn's refrain "to be a pilgrim" has entered the language and has been used in the title of a number of books dealing with pilgrimage in a literal or spiritual sense.
Notable recordings
- Maddy PriorMaddy PriorMaddy Prior is an English folk singer, best known as the lead vocalist of Steeleye Span.-Early life:...
and The Carnival BandThe Carnival BandThe Carnival Band is a marching band and community orchestra based in the Commercial Drive area of East Vancouver, Canada. As a frequent presence in public spaces and supporter of local social and environmental wellness organizations, The Carnival Band is a part of the Activist Street Band...
– album Sing Lustily And With Good CourageSing Lustily And With Good CourageSing Lustily And With Good Courage is an album by Maddy Prior and the Carnival Band. It was recorded at Valley Recordings in March 1990 and released as a CD on the Saydisc label....
.
Also recorded by Lesley Duncan and Joyce Everson in 1973 on the GM Label in England.
It is the school hymn of Newcastle Grammar School.
"To be a Pilgrim" is a radio play by Rachel Joyce, broadcast as the BBc Four afternoon play. It won the Peter Tinniswood Award in 2007 for best original drama.